U.S. patent number 8,004,850 [Application Number 10/551,725] was granted by the patent office on 2011-08-23 for arrangement for electrical and/or mechanical components on a large, flexible foil type conductor area.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH. Invention is credited to Joachim Buhl, Turhan Buyukbas, Matthias Gramann, Peter Guth, Dominik Klein, Tilo Liebl, Klaus Scharrer, Bernhard Schuch.
United States Patent |
8,004,850 |
Buyukbas , et al. |
August 23, 2011 |
Arrangement for electrical and/or mechanical components on a large,
flexible foil type conductor area
Abstract
The present system and method relate to an arrangement of
electrical and/or mechanical components on a large, flexible
foil-type conductor area and a method for producing such an
arrangement. The flexible foil-type conductor can be easily and
flexibly handled and is inexpensive and process-reliable.
Inventors: |
Buyukbas; Turhan (Nurnberg,
DE), Gramann; Matthias (Neunkirchen, DE),
Scharrer; Klaus (Hohenstadt, DE), Guth; Peter
(Nurnberg, DE), Buhl; Joachim (Nurnberg,
DE), Klein; Dominik (Nurnberg, DE), Schuch;
Bernhard (Neusitz, DE), Liebl; Tilo (Hersbruck,
DE) |
Assignee: |
Conti Temic Microelectronic
GmbH (Nurnburg, DE)
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Family
ID: |
32981058 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/551,725 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2004 |
PCT
Filed: |
April 02, 2004 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/DE2004/000717 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
August 02, 2006 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2004/087466 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
October 14, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060268529 A1 |
Nov 30, 2006 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Apr 3, 2003 [DE] |
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103 15 438 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
361/760; 174/255;
257/780; 174/250; 361/719; 257/678; 174/254; 361/704; 361/688;
174/263; 174/260; 361/160; 29/846; 361/836; 257/686; 438/106;
361/752 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
16/0215 (20130101); H05K 1/189 (20130101); H01L
2224/48228 (20130101); H01L 2224/48472 (20130101); H05K
2201/2009 (20130101); Y10T 29/49155 (20150115); H05K
3/0052 (20130101); H05K 2201/2018 (20130101); F16H
61/0006 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H05K
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;361/760,719,704,752,160,688,836 ;174/250,254,255,260,263 ;29/846
;438/106 ;257/678,686,780 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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42 25 358 |
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Feb 1994 |
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DE |
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38 42 340 |
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Jun 1990 |
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EP |
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0490 530 |
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Jun 1992 |
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EP |
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1 413 518 |
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Nov 1975 |
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GB |
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2 275 373 |
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Aug 1994 |
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GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Chen; Xiaoliang
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A flexible folio-type conductor comprising: a large,
standardized folio-type conductor area; one or more mechanical
component mechanically connected to the folio-type conductor area;
and one or more electrical component mechanically connected to the
folio-type conductor area, wherein the one or more electrical
component is electrically connected to the folio-type conductor
area, wherein two or more of the mechanical component and the
electrical component are combined to form assemblies on the
folio-type conductor area such that each individual assembly is
arranged on a folio-type conductor partial area, which comprises
border lines which are as long as possible and extend as parallel
as possible to border lines of the large, standardized foil-type
conductor area, with each of the mechanical and the electrical
components arranged on opposite ends of the folio-type conductor
strip with the one or more electrical component arranged on an
upper side of the folio-type conductor area and the one or more
mechanical component arranged on a lower side of the folio-type
conductor area.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more
mechanical component is a cuboidal plate made of metal or
plastics.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or mechanical
component is part of a housing.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more
electrical component is a sensor or actuator.
5. A method for producing at least one assembly having two or more
electrical components or mechanical components on a flexible
folio-type conductor, wherein a large, standardized foil-type
conductor area is provided, the method comprising: mechanically
connecting mechanical components to the folio-type conductor area;
mechanically connecting electrical components to the folio-type
conductor area; electrically connecting the electrical components
to the folio-type conductor area; and separating part of the
folio-type conductor area, which comprises an assembly from the
folio-type conductor area along predetermined border lines, wherein
the step of mechanically connecting the mechanical component
includes connecting the mechanical component to a lower side of the
folio-type conductor area at one end and connecting the electrical
component to an upper side of the folio-type conductor area at an
end of folio-type conductor area opposite the mechanical
component.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein on the large,
standardized foil-type conductor area with several assemblies which
each comprise electrical and/or mechanical components, that part of
the folio-type conductor area, which comprises an assembly, is
separated from the folio-type conductor area along the
predetermined border lines.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the two or more
electrical components or mechanical components are combined to form
assemblies on the folio-type conductor area such that the
individual assemblies are arranged on folio-type conductor partial
areas, which comprise border lines which are as long as possible
and extend as parallel as possible to the border lines of the
large, standardized foil-type conductor area.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the distribution of the
folio-type conductor partial areas on the large folio-type
conductor area, the position of the border lines and the resulting
form of the folio-type conductor partial areas inclusive the
distribution of the components on the folio-type conductor partial
area are chosen such that the waste resulting from separating is
reduced to a minimum.
9. The method according to claim 5 further comprising: creating the
mechanical connection of the mechanical components created by
laminating, SMD mounting or by mechanical joining; providing
electrical contact surfaces on a side opposite to the mechanical
component of the folio-type conductor area; creating the mechanical
connection of the electrical components by soldering or by welding;
and producing the electrical connection of the electrical
components produced by utilizing the contacts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an arrangement of electrical and/or
mechanical components on a large, flexible foil-type conductor area
and a method for producing such an arrangement.
Thanks to its merits, the flexible foil-type conductor as a
connecting element for different components is increasingly
distributed, and that for example in automotive engineering. Thus,
for example in the production of a control device for a motor
vehicle gear unit, usually at first the layout for the arrangement
of the electrical and/or mechanical components as a whole is
prepared. Then a foil-type conductor piece, which serves for
interconnecting the electrical and/or mechanical components,
according to the layout is detached from a large, standardized
foil-type conductor area. Afterwards, the foil-type conductor piece
is connected to a base plate. Subsequently, the components are
arranged and are connected to the foil-type conductor piece.
Already with a less complicated foil layout this proceeding
involves a high waste of expensive foil. Moreover, only at a
relatively late point of time of the manufacturing process the
quality of the contacts of the components to the foil-type
conductor can be tested.
In patent specification DE 197 51 095 C1 the arrangement of a
control unit in the interior of a motor vehicle gear unit is
described, wherein the electrical connecting element between the
control unit and the electrical components outside of the housing
consists of a single flexible foil-type conductor and fulfills a
double function, namely on the one hand to connect the control unit
to the electrical components outside of the housing and on the
other hand to jointly contact several components existing in the
housing. The control unit comprises at least two housing parts
which are interconnected in oil-tight manner, through which the
electrical connecting element is guided.
Here, the flexible foil-type conductor is made of one piece, what
leads to a high waste and thus is uneconomical in case of complex
arrangements, if only the recess for the control unit in the center
of the foil-type conductor is counted.
Beyond this, with the form of the foil-type conductor the position
of the electrical components is fixed inside and outside of the
housing and requires a change of form of the entire foil-type
conductor, if only one component changes its position. In the
manufacturing process this is a serious restriction of the design
possibilities.
A further disadvantage of this arrangement is that the function and
quality inspection, for example with regard to impermeability of
the arrangement or quality of the electrical contacts, can be
tested only very late in the manufacturing process. This may
possibly result in a very expensive reworking or even in high
reject costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to produce an easy and
flexible to handle, inexpensive and process-reliable arrangement of
electrical and/or mechanical components on a large, flexible
foil-type conductor area and to create the method for producing
such an arrangement.
This object is achieved by an arrangement with a large folio-type
conductor area having mechanical components mechanically connected
thereto and having electrical components that are both mechanically
and electrically connected thereto.
Advantageously, several electrical and/or mechanical components are
combined to suitable assemblies on the large folio-type area. In
this case the individual assemblies are arranged on the folio-type
conductor partial areas such that their border lines are as long as
possible and extend as parallel as possible to the border lines of
the large foil-type conductor area. Ideally, the folio-type
conductor partial areas are formed as parallel strips. By this way,
waste at the large folio-type conductor area is minimized.
The arrangement is extremely variable, as each assembly can
comprise electrical and/or mechanical components which are
different from each other. In particular within a large folio-type
conductor area each assembly can differ from the other. This is
ideally suitable for use in the development phase or with small or
smallest series.
Advantageously, with the method according to the invention
electrical and/or mechanical connecting of the electrical and/or
mechanical components to the foil-type conductor is already
effected on the large folio-type conductor area. By means of this
the quality of the connections can be tested already on the large
folio-type conductor area. Then, the tested folio-type conductor
sections with the pertaining components can be separated and
supplied to the ensuing manufacturing step. This enhances the
process reliability of the entire manufacturing process.
Preferably, the folio-type conductor sections are arranged on the
large folio-type conductor area such that after separation of the
last folio-type conductor partial area the foil waste is reduced to
a minimum.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention the
mechanical connection of the mechanical components to the
folio-type conductor area is performed by laminating, SMD mounting
or mechanical joining. Thereby, an intricate gluing process is
avoided.
In a preferred manner the mechanical connection of the electrical
components to the folio-type conductor area is created by soldering
or welding. This guarantees a fast and reliable manufacturing
process.
Preferably, on the side opposite to the mechanical component of the
folio-type conductor area electrical contact surfaces are attached.
Thereby, in the further manufacturing process an electrical
connection to the other electrical components and or folio-type
conductors can be produced.
Advantageously, the mechanical components can be formed as flat
cuboidal plates made of metal or plastics. These plates can serve
as a support in the production of the electrical connection between
the contact areas, which are located on the folio-type conductor
area opposite to the mechanical components, and further electrical
components and/or folio-type conductors. Furthermore, these plates
can also be used in the further manufacturing process a parts of a
complete housing and may possibly have in addition an effect
sealing the housing.
In accordance with a particularly preferred example of embodiment
of the present invention the electrical components are preferably
sensors or actuators. They are connected to the folio-type
conductor area in particular via separate contacts. The quality of
the connection of the electrical and/or the mechanical components
to the folio-type conductor area can be tested already directly
after production of the respective connection. Thus, in the entire
manufacturing process security can be enhanced and costs can be
saved by omitting a possible reworking caused when using an
untested, damaged assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the present invention is taken in
conjunction with the enclosed drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a top view of the arrangement of the electrical and
the mechanical components on the large folio-type conductor
area,
FIG. 2 shows a cut through FIG. 1 in the level A-A,
FIG. 3 shows an extract from a schematic cross-sectional view of a
housing, the mechanical components being used as part of the
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred example of embodiment of the
invention, the individual assemblies 7, which each comprise an
electrical component 4, here an actuator or sensor as an
SMD-component, a folio-type conductor piece 2 and a cuboidal plate
as a mechanical component 3, hereinafter referred to as bond plate,
being identical. The folio-type conductor pieces 2 are embodied as
parallel strips on the large folio-type conductor area 1, what
ideally reduces waste to zero.
The components 3 and 4 are each arranged opposite to the end of the
folio-type conductor strip 2, the electrical component 4 being
arranged on the upper side and the mechanical component 3 on the
lower side. The mechanical connection of the electrical component 4
to the folio-type conductor piece 2 can be performed by soldering
or by welding; electrically they are connected to the folio-type
conductor piece 2 in particular via the contact 6.
The mechanical connection of the bond plate 3 to the folio-type
conductor piece 2 is created for instance by laminating, SMD
mounting; also a connection by mechanical joining would be
conceivable. On the side opposite to the bond plate 3 contact
surfaces 5 are provided on the folio-type conductor piece 2, by
means of which contact surfaces in the ensuing manufacturing
process further electrical components can be electrically connected
via the folio-type conductor piece 2 to the SMD-component 4.
The quality of the electrical and/or mechanical connections can be
tested directly after manufacturing. If all components 3 and/or 4
are arranged on the large folio-type conductor area, the individual
assemblies 7 can be separated and processed.
The invention comprises of course all possible combinations of the
electrical and/or the mechanical components 3, 4 on the upper side
and/or lower side of the large folio-type conductor area 1 and they
can also vary from assembly 7 to assembly 7 within a folio-type
conductor area. The form of the respective assembly 7 complies with
the respective requirements and can also be different from assembly
7 to assembly 7 within the large folio-type conductor area 1.
FIG. 3 shows an extract from a schematic cross-sectional view of a
housing 8, the bond plate 3 being used as part of the housing 8. At
the bottom the housing 8 comprises a recess 9, into which the bond
plate 3 is fitted such that the folio-type conductor piece 2 is
located between the bond plate 3 and the housing 8. The bond wire
10 produces the electrical connection between the contact surface 5
on the folio-type conductor piece 2 and the electrical unit 11 in
the interior of the housing 8. Thus, by the assembly 7 the
electrical unit 11 in the interior of the housing 8 is electrically
connected to the SMD-component 4 outside of the housing 8. The bond
plate 3 can be inserted into the recess 9 for instance by screwing
or caulking. Together with the folio-type conductor piece 2 the
bond plate 3 can also have an effect sealing the housing 8, in
particular against oil. In a manner not shown the sealing effect
can be enhanced by attaching an additional sealing between the
folio-type conductor piece 2 and the housing 8.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
TABLE-US-00001 1 Large flexible folio-type conductor area 2
Folio-type conductor piece 3 Mechanical component 4 Electrical
component 5 Contact surface 6 Contact 7 Assembly 8 Housing 9 Recess
10 Bond wire 11 Electrical unit
* * * * *